Page 153 of I Think They Love You

“I’m not—” Denz stops short. He very muchishiding. “How’d you know I’d be here?”

“Kami,” Kenneth says matter-of-factly. He clocks Denz’s frown. “You two on radio silence?”

“It’s complicated.”

“I can relate.” Kenneth laughs. After Mindy drops off his cup of dark roast coffee sprinkled with cinnamon, he says, “I grew up with twin sisters. We fought more than we talked.”

“Can you? Relate?” Denz asks.

His dad replies with atry meexpression that Denz would’ve been hesitant toward years ago, but today? Today he’s bold.

“Why’d you pit us against each other?”

“I didn’t,” Kenneth says. “You had the same opportunity as everyone. You nominatedyourself. You chose to—”

“Was it a choice?” Later, Denz might regret his decision to interrupt his dad. Not now. “I heard the aunties that day. After the meeting. I know the pressure the company’s been under.”

“I don’t need you to fight my battles, son.”

“It’s notyourbattle,” Denz says. “It’s our family’s. We’ve all put something into 24CarterGold. Kami and me. Nic. Mom.”

Kenneth sighs. “Trust me, I know.”

“Then why were you so hard on us?” Denz’s voice grows thick. Into his tea, he whispers, “Why are youalwaysso hard on me?”

“Because the world’s gonna be hard on you. No matter how great you are. What you have to offer.” Kenneth pauses, clearing his throat. “They’ll always see you as a Black man first. Someone who hasn’tearnedhis place.”

“I know that.”

“Do you?” Kenneth asks, genuine and concerned. “It doesn’t matter how many magazine covers, TV interviews, or red carpets I’m on. I still get a million questions from a potential client about who I am. How many hoops am I willing to jump through for the job? Meanwhile, they hire my mediocre, unaccomplished white peers to host their events because I didn’t ‘fit’ the vision they were going for.”

Denz watches anger pinch the skin around his dad’s eyes.

“Because of whoweare”—Kenneth gestures between them—“we’ll always have to be twice as good as the next person. I’ve worked hard to prepare you and your sisters for that.”

“You sure did,” Denz mumbles, sniffing.

“Clearly, I failed to do it the right way.” A deep frown reaches into every wrinkle along Kenneth’s face. He takes off his glasses. “Do you know why I didn’t choose you?”

Part of Denz knew this was coming. A formal discussion between boss and employee about decisions made. The thing is, Denz isn’t sure he wants to hear it.

He says apprehensively, “Because I’m not Kami?”

“Almost.” Kenneth sips his coffee. “Because you’re gonna turn into another me. I can’t let that happen.”

“Wow, that’s kind of fu—”

Kenneth holds up a hand. “I don’t mean I’m worried about you outshining my success. I want that!” He smiles. “What I don’t want is for you to destroy your future trying to replicate my past. It’ll ruin you, son.”

Denz shakes his head. “What does that even mean?”

“Your mom swears you’re just like her and Kami’s like me. But she’s wrong.” Kenneth snorts. “You caretoo much. Like me. You want the company to succeed more than you want yourself to.”

He pauses for another sip.

“I almost lost her,” Kenneth confesses. “Your mom.”

There it is. His dad finally said out loud what no one in their family talks about.

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